We are planning to attend the AIOCC meeting in St Wendel also. Could you please share with us what your presentation will include? I think we need to of course be very careful in what we say to this group. As we all know, we have gotten a sweetheart deal in the US for years and that has been changing. It is this group that has been the driving force to change it. They push very hard to see our standards raised to what they see their standards to be. Yet our model, being a participation sport in the US, is a very different model than they enjoy in Europe.

I look forward to hear more.

Cheers
Bruce

--- In USAICO@yahoogroups.com <mailto:USAICO%40yahoogroups.com> , Brook Watts <brook.watts@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the response Bruce.
>
> To date you're the first response to my post suggesting we formalize the USAICO.
>
> At the risk of generating a firestorm I had hoped to initiate a broad discussion about where we go, how we get there, who's included, etc. but the lack of input only reinforces my fear that USAICO will continue to limp along as a group in name only with 90% of the effort being done by 10% of the e-mail group members.
>
> We need to be an active advisory group not only to USAC but to the international community of cross promoters and the UCI.
>
> We need to have a group of people preparing our annual meeting and managing the myriad of tasks like meeting room, agenda, conference call service, etc. not just a few hardy souls.
>
> We need to represent and protect the interests of not only events but of sponsors and athletes as well.
>
> FYI, I'll be giving a brief presentation on the "state of cross in the USA" at the international meeting in Sankt Wendel. I'd encourage any group members going to St Wendel attend the meeting. The international group would love to see greater participation by US promoters and has asked me how to encourage it. Keep in mind that AIOCC dues must be paid by the 15th to attend. Anyone can feel free to contact me for meeting location, time, etc as well as annual dues payment info.
>
>
>
> Brook Watts
> brook.watts@...
> 303-684-9170 Phone
> 303-907-3133 Cell
> 323-329-9315 Fax
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 10, 2011, at 10:23 AM, Bruce Fina wrote:
>
> >
> > Dear Brook, All
> >
> > I agree that it is time to formalize this group with some democracy. I also think there should be a fee involved. People seem to care about what they pay for, sadly maybe, but true.
> >
> > I am all for participating more if there is to be some sort of governance and mission statement.
> >
> > Bruce
> >
> > From: Brook Watts <brook.watts@...>
> > To: USAICO@yahoogroups.com <mailto:USAICO%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Fri, January 7, 2011 5:31:32 PM
> > Subject: Fwd: [USAICO] Non-UCI national calendar question for the group
> >
> >
> > Adam, Paul are correct about correct about the comments being public and this supports what I said a couple of weeks ago....it's time to formalize the USAICO in some manner. This may be as simple as a public website that provides info but has a backend available by password to members. The key to membership? It doesn't have to be payment of a fee but instead inscription via a form.
> >
> >
> > We've all admitted that this is a new era for cross in America and our group needs to adjust for the new era.
> >
> > Let's face it, we're suffering from the same syndrome that all groups suffer, 90% of the communication and work is being done by 10% of the group. We need to get all organizers involved in some manner even if that's simply registering for access to the info.
> >
> > The natural extension to that, as I proposed previously, is to form some work groups or committees to tackle issues of common interest.
> >
> > I've included by message from Dec. 21 as a refresher.
> >
> > Brook Watts
> > brook.watts@...
> > 303-684-9170 Phone
> > 303-907-3133 Cell
> > 323-329-9315 Fax
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> >> From: "Brook.Watts@CrossVegas" <brook.watts@...>
> >> Date: December 21, 2010 7:53:19 AM MST
> >> To: USAICO@yahoogroups.com <mailto:USAICO%40yahoogroups.com>
> >> Subject: Re: [USAICO] A Case for a Coordinated Calendar
> >>
> >> Richard makes a solid case for coordination among promoters. I support this call for greater coordination AND communication.
> >>
> >> In addition it's clear that not every promoter is reached by this e-mail list or is part of the USAICO. We need to look at an organizational format that overcomes those shortcomings. I'm not suggesting "membership" in USAICO since it implies a fee but rather we need to develop a structure that is a bit more formal than we have currently in this e-mail group.
> >>
> >> Here's a few items we need to face:
> >>
> >> -- How do we get every promoter -- of all significant cross races, not just International races -- looped into these conversations? The addition of a national calendar that serves as a stepping stone to UCI status illustrates this need.
> >>
> >> -- Can we move toward a goal of being a group with a strong voice that contributes to the discussion with USA Cycling and UCI? That structure, using the model seen in most organizations, would include establishing smaller work groups of several members to deal with pressing matters including recommend course standards, resolve scheduling issues, etc. Work groups report back to the general membership thereby allowing us to tackle multiple issues.
> >>
> >> -- Do we need a leadership committee that steers our ship? How do we harness the human resources among our membership to accomplish our goals?
> >>
> >> -- How do we add the voices of the athletes to our group? Do we need an athlete representative as part of our structure?
> >>
> >> -- Do we need to look to a dedicated group website, perhaps with password protected access, to manage communication among members, serve as a depository for resources, forms and materials?
> >>
> >> -- What other issues have I neglected to include?
> >>
> >>
> >> Clearly this season has shown we're at a crucial juncture in the growth of U.S. cross, now we need to adjust as a group to handle the new demands. Let's not sit idly by until next season to make the needed adjustments.
> >>
> >> Thoughts? Next steps?
> >>
> >>
> >> Brook Watts
> >> brook.watts@...
> >> 303-684-9170 Phone
> >> 303-907-3133 Cell
> >> 323-329-9315 Fax
> >> http://www.crossvegas.com/
> >> Wednesday Sept. 14, 2011
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Your message has been successfully submitted and would be delivered to recipients shortly.